Method and system for the prevention of unwanted wireless telecommunications

ABSTRACT

A method and system for filtering unwanted wireless telecommunications includes structure and steps/function for monitoring traffic associated with roaming subscribers, the traffic being carried via inter-network Internet Protocol links. Structure and steps/function are also provided for intercepting a send-routing-information message from an originating node within the traffic, and initiating a response to the originating node so as to direct the originating node to send a short message service (SMS) or Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS) associated with the send-routing-information message to a SPAM-filter via an SMS or MMS delivery message. Structure and steps/function are further provided for receiving the SMS or MMS at the SPAM-filter, and determining, at the SPAM-filter, whether the SMS or MMS constitutes an unwanted message. Also, structure and steps/function are provided for invoking an action for managing the SMS based on results of the determining process.

The present application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 12/052,211, filed Mar. 20, 2008, which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 11/318,931, filed Dec. 28, 2005, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,369,867, which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/704,735, filed Nov. 12, 2003, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,409,203, the contents of each of these applications being incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to telecommunications software employed in wireless telephony; and more specifically to a fully integrated computer program product and architecture for the inhibition of unsolicited wireless telecommunications prior to their receipt by the intended party.

RELATED ART

Unsolicited and otherwise undesirable telephone calls, e-mails and faxes have become something of a ubiquity in today's highly prized communications age. Ironically, and almost inevitably, in advancing the art, users of wireless subscribers are now experiencing similar types of unsolicited messages and/or telecommunications at their handsets and/or mobile devices, including unsolicited Short Message Service (SMS), (‘SMS spam’), Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS), and Enhanced Messaging Service EMS, among others. Particularly prevalent in Europe (owing principally to the more mature SMS and MMS market presence and usage therewith), it remains readily apparent that the problem will soon spread quantitatively and geographically.

Elements of the prior art as U.S. Patent Application 20030083078 by Allison et al., entitled methods and systems for preventing delivery of unwanted short message service (SMS) messages, which discloses a method whereby a signaling message processing and routing node transmits and receives short message service (SMS) data packets via a communications network, and therewith includes an SMS message discrimination module that determines whether an unwanted or spam SMS message is being sent to a receiving or called party. Nonetheless said application by Allison et al., inevitably remains tied to the prevention of SMS only, and appears to be Global System for Mobile communications (GSM)/International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI)-centric, as well as constrained by reliance upon Signaling System 7 (SS7)/Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) signaling. Indeed, our invention of present remains unconstrained by such considerations, and indeed, applies filtering rules and paradigms to incoming messages from External Short Messaging Entities (ESMEs) (i.e. on content received via an Application Programming Interface (API) or via a Short Message Peer-to-peer Protocol (SMPP), Universal Computer Protocol (UCP), MultiMedia (MMx) interface), and/or to all forms of asynchronous communications including, but not limited to, SMS, MMS and EMS. Our invention additionally provides for the application of network-side filtering to a broader set of network protocols including those prescribed by the Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA) American National Standards Institute ANSI-41), and may also filter media and telecommunications, based on the current location and presence status of the subscriber, and in alternate embodiments may store unsolicited informational and marketing oriented messages (‘spam’) to be viewed in an off-line state.

Other teachings from the prior art include U.S. Patent Application 20030074397 by Morin et al., entitled system and method to control sending of unsolicited communications over a network, however, such art remains irrelevant to the teachings discloses in our application as Morin et al. effectively employ an intermediary agent to relay content (akin to its own messaging service).

U.S. Patent Application 20030021244 by Anderson, D., entitled methods and systems of blocking and/or disregarding data and related wireless terminals and wireless service providers, provides a means for determining whether a packet of data received at a wireless terminal is from an acceptable source (and then processed accordingly therewith). However, the paucity in the disclosure by Anderson is that it blocks packets for designated sources (i.e. IP addresses or equivalent addresses), that is, while it will allow or disallow an SMS Server, it cannot block SMS's based on a finer granularity (i.e. the actual originating address such as the External Short Message Entity (ESME) identifier or Mobile Subscriber Integrated Services Digital Network Number (MSISDN) for instance).

WIPO Patent Application (WO) 03026331 by Jaeaelinoja et al., entitled method and apparatus for processing messages, discloses a method for processing SMS or MMS messages in a gateway, comprising the steps of classifying the messages based on their certain characteristics and processing the classified messages based on certain processing code that takes the classification into account. The principal delineation between such art and that of the present seeking the protection of Letters Patent remains that Jaeaelinoja et al. focuses on filtering on the input to the SMS-C (i.e. via the SMPP or equivalent protocol). Likewise, German Patent No. 10114649 to Koehler U., entitled method for selecting consignees within telephone- or cell-phone network, requires initially comparing incoming subscriber directory numbers and/or authorized information with stored subscriber numbers, discloses a method whereby a subscriber sets a filter via a control code and a short message service, or via the internet, into the information control Short Message Service Center (SMSC) assigned to him, on the basis of his subscriber number identification or on the basis of a password, or according to the call, e-mail or Wireless Application Protocol (WAP), which blocks incoming information already in the information control, or switches it thorough. Nonetheless, the patent seems to presume that the functionality resides in the SMS-C. Indeed, much art is directed and constrained by over-reliance on the SMS-C and its known functionality.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention has been disclosed herewith to address the overall deficiencies and/or lack of foresight demonstrated in the art, particularly when one allows for the international spotlight which has been placed on the quandary by the European Union and their Directive on Privacy and Electronic Communications (Directive 2002/58/EC). Indeed, paragraph forty (40) of the Directive's Preamble provides that “[s]afeguards should be provided for subscribers against intrusion of their privacy by unsolicited communications for direct marketing purposes in particular by means of automated calling machines, telefaxes, and e-mails, including SMS messages. These forms of unsolicited commercial communications may on the one hand be relatively easy and cheap to send and on the other may impose a burden and/or cost on the recipient. Moreover, in some cases their volume may also cause difficulties for electronic communications networks and terminal equipment. For such forms of unsolicited communications for direct marketing, it is justified to require that prior explicit consent of the recipients is obtained before such communications are addressed to them. The single market requires a harmonized approach to ensure simple, Community-wide rules for businesses and users.”

While other media-rich forms of asynchronous communications are expected to supplant SMS over course of the three (3) years (e.g. MMS and Push-to-talk Over Cellular PoC)—the growth in SMS messaging is expected to continue to increase over the next 12-18 months. Although a portion of this growth is expected to be spurred by increasing adoption of SMS in mature markets as well as the introduction of digital wireless communications in emerging markets—a major source of growth of SMS messaging is likely to be associated with the broadcast of unsolicited informational and marketing oriented messages (‘spam’). To the extent that spam is unsolicited and not explicitly authorized, it constitutes a potential irritant to the receiving party. In particular, the steady geometric increase in SMS messages are increasingly beginning to detract from the benefits of SMS. For example, personal messages may be lost or forgotten.

Telecommunications network operators and like entities must effectively achieve a balance between promoting the generation of incremental revenues through the use of SMS-based advertising/information—al messages (while complying with existing or as yet, but likely to be, introduced Privacy and/or Electronic Communications legislation, which usually call for explicit ‘opt-in’ mechanisms for the delivery of such marketing and/or related promotional and/or informational material).

To this end, the invention of present speaks to a method and system for the prevention of unwanted wireless telecommunications which is implemented as part of a computer program product in (preferentially) the telecommunications operator's network, which meets and/or exceeds much of current, proposed and even academically anticipated legislative (and by necessity, technical) criteria, and indeed, thereby complies with the broader body of prima facie consumer requirements associated with wireless telecommunications spam filtering. In one embodiment of the invention, the art disclosed addresses the issues associated with effectively filtering SMS spam introduced by External Short Message Entity (ESME) sources associated with the Home Operator as well as filtering SMS spam introduced by EMSE's outside of the Home Operators control (which may be hosted in a foreign jurisdiction).

In another embodiment of the invention, as it specifically relates to SMS, the invention is designed to block Mobile Terminating (MT) messages rather than Mobile Originating (MO) ones, since the inventors in seeking to advance the art grant and hold that an architecture which filters MT messages is far more comprehensive and through than a MO filtering solution; since it filters messages leaving the Short Message Service Center (SMSC) and as result is not limited to SMS messages originated within the network. Indeed, if MO filtering solutions have the capability to filter both MO and ESME originated SMS messages the network provider can never be sure that all foreign incoming messages are routed through a filter.

In yet another embodiment of the invention, the art provides for a highly robust system through the implementation of a two phase filtering process where messages are intercepted via SS7 (in this illustrative instance). Whereby the first filtering process intercepts Send Routing Information for Short Messages (SRI-for-SM) on their way to the Home Location Register (HLR) and the second intercepts Mobile Terminated Forward Short Messages (MT-FSM) on route to the MSC.

This invention provides for a remarkably flexible and customizable advance in the art through the utilization of a progressive filtering algorithm. This algorithm offers both the subscriber and the service provider with the capability to block and/or extract potentially harmful or unsolicited SMS, MMS and other such messages on the basis of an extensive range of parameters and rules.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a typical, non-limiting embodiment of the system level architecture employed in the disclosure of present.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Members skilled in the art will recognize that the ensuing represents an illustrative recital of the preferred embodiments of the invention of present and other embodiments may be articulated, gleaned and articulated from such while still remaining with in its spirit and scope. Indeed, equivalents found within the state of the art, and those which may reasonably and effectively be deemed equivalent in the future should also be understood as being incorporated by reference hereto and such. Furthermore, much of the language has been illustrative and is to be construed as expressly for pedagogical purposes in helping elucidate the art as concisely and beneficially as practical.

The invention discloses a method and system of filtering unsolicited informational and marketing oriented messages (‘spam’) based on inputs into the Network Operator's network including, but not limited to, asynchronous messages received via TCP/IP protocols including SMPP (Short Message Peer to Peer), UCP (Universal Computer Protocol), MMx (MM1, MM4, MM7) (associated with the provision of Multi-Media Service messages), SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol), and POP3 (Post Office Protocol). Furthermore, this method and system of filtering spam (as defined above) messages can be applied to messages received in the form of an API (Application Programming Interface) such as those generally prescribed by the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), 3rd Generation Partnership Project 2 (3GPP2), Open Mobile Alliance (OMA), European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI), and Parlay (The Parlay Group is a technical industry consortium that specifies APIs for the telephone network.)

In the preferred embodiment, the spam is filtered based on intermediating network protocols including, but not limited to, SS7 based SMS protocols such as those prescribed by GSM 03.40 and Electronic Industries Alliance (EIA)/Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA) Interim Standard IS-841 (as amended from time to time) and Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) based protocols such as those prescribed by the SIMPLE (SIP for Instant Messaging and Presence Leveraging Extensions) protocol defined by the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) (as amended from time to time). In the case of SS7 based SMS protocols, the invention will specifically intermediate and filter messages such as MO_Forward_Short Messages (GSM) and Short Message Delivery Point-to-Point (SMDPP) (ANSI-41) messages prior to forwarding the message to the SMSC (Short Message Service Center) (which will deliver the message per existing methods and protocols as described in the state of the art).

In the preferred embodiments, the filtering mechanism is based on the (or any combination of), source address, destination address, network element address (e.g. SMSC Address), protocol id/type, data coding scheme, keyword/content search, service identifier (e.g. the service type field provided in a Submit_SM message to a SMSC), location or presence status of the originator and/or destination. With respect to location, the invention will either interface with a location element (e.g. Gateway Mobile Location Center (GMLC) (GSM) or Mobile Positioning Center (MPC) (ANSI-41)) or directly determine the location of the subscriber(s) based on methods and protocols as described in the art (e.g. GSM 03.71)).

One embodiment of the invention provides the logic necessary for the filtering of spam for roaming SMS traffic. A SS7 monitoring subsystem monitors and intermediates traffic associated with roaming subscribers, wherein, the messaging intermediation node would typically be located so as to intermediate traffic on inter-network SS7 links. The messaging intermediation node will specifically intercept Send Routing Information for Short Message SRI_for_SM (GSM) or Short Message Service Request SMSREQ (IS-41) messages. And upon intercepting the SRI_for_SM/SMSREQ message, the messaging intermediation node will initiate a response to the originating node (typically a SMS-C) so as to direct the actual SMS message to the SMS filtering subsystem which may be hosted by messaging intermediation node. The network element in the foreign network (the SMSC in this instance) will direct the SMS message to the SMS filtering subsystem via a MT_Forward_Short_Message (GSM) or SMDPP (Short Message Delivery Point to Point) (ANSI-41) message. The SMS filtering subsystem will determine whether the message constitutes “spam” and will invoke the appropriate action (delete, store for later viewing, notify the originating node of a failure or successful delivery (i.e. to prevent resubmissions) and so forth. Should the SMS message be considered a valid message, the messaging intermediation node may either deliver the message directly (in which case the messaging intermediation node will request the location of the serving network element from the subscribers HLR (Home Location Register) (i.e. via a SRI_for_SM (GSM) or SMSREQ (IS-41) message), and in turn, the messaging intermediation node will initiate an attempt to deliver the SMS message to the serving node via the appropriate message Mobile Terminated Forward Short Message (MT FSM (GSM) or SMDPP (ANSI-41)); or provide the message to the SMSC via the applicable interface (e.g. SMPP) in order to leverage the store and forward mechanisms which are described in the state of the art. (In a rather sui generis, hybrid scenario, an unsuccessful attempt to initially deliver the message as per the former, may be forwarded to the subscriber's SMSC for delivery via latter of the scenarios outlined in the previous sentence).

Indeed, the actual elements and ranges of parameters are configurable by either the subscriber or network operator via well documented mechanisms such as web-based GUIs and bulk-loading of parametric attributes.

In alternate embodiments, such filtered content will optionally be stored for later retrieval or viewing by the subscriber or network operator. In yet another embodiment, an e-mail can be generated and forwarded to the subscriber on a (configurable) periodic basis which provides statistics as well as content (messages) which were filtered using the current settings.

Although implemented as part of a computer program product, FIG. 1 has been included to further elucidate and enable the invention disclosed herewith. Indeed, members skilled in the art will recognize that much of the functionality depicted in said FIGURE remains conceptual and ‘high-level’ in light of the nature of computer program products and their functionality and functional processes. For illustrative purposes the invention may be articulated with four (4) external interfaces (50 and 60) (two (2) incoming 60A 60B, and two (2) outgoing 50A 50B). Incoming interfaces in this illustrative embodiment include the SMS Spam-Filter HLR. Interface 60A and the SMS Spain-Filter MT-MSC Interface 60B. Whereas the outgoing interfaces in this illustrative embodiment include the UPS Interface 50A (to retrieve the subscriber barring plan) and External spam filter API 50B.

The spam-filter HLR logic 10 has been articulated, in this illustration, to deal with unsolicited informational and marketing oriented SMS messages. At 10, the invention processes the incoming SRI-for-SM and checks if the SMSC address has not been barred in the SMSC database list 30. If barred, said request is rejected, if not, the SRI-for-SM is forwarded to the HLR (not shown). The invention 100 then checks if the said subscriber is already in the subscriber cache 40. If so then the invention 100, requests 50B the spam profile from the external spamming filter software. If not, the invention 100, then requests 50A the barring profile from the UPS.

The invention 100 then receives the SRI-for-SM response from the HLR (not shown) and forwards the SRI-for-SM to the foreign SMSC after all profiles are received. After which, said barring information is stored in the subscriber cache 40.

In relation to the SMS (in this instance) Spam-Filter MT-MSC Logic 20, the invention 100 processes the incoming MT-FSM and requests the subscriber barring profiles from subscriber cache 40. The invention 100 therewith compares the messages in question with the spamming profiles and continues when no spamming profile has been matched, or otherwise the message is rejected. The message is then forwarded to the destination MSC (Mobile Switching Center), wherewith the MT-FSM response is thereby received from destination MSC and the message is forwarded to the originated SMSC (all not shown as already well document in the state of the art). 

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for filtration of unwanted wireless telecommunications comprising the steps of: monitoring traffic associated with roaming subscribers, said traffic carried via inter-network links; intercepting a request for routing information from an originating node within said traffic; sending a response to said request directing said originating node to send a short message service (SMS) message or Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS) message associated with said request to a spam-filter; receiving said SMS message or MMS message at said spam-filter; determining, at said spam-filter, whether said SMS message or MMS message constitutes an unwanted message; and invoking an action for managing said SMS message or MMS message based on results of said determining step.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein said originating node is an Internet Protocol Short Message Gateway or Short Message Service Center.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the traffic carried via inter-network links uses the Session Initiation Protocol (SIP).
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein if said SMS message or MMS message is determined to constitute an unwanted message then said action comprises at least one of deleting, storing for later viewing, and notifying said originating node of a failure or successful delivery.
 5. The method of claim 4, wherein said action comprises notifying said originating node of successful delivery in order to prevent resubmission of said SMS message or MMS message.
 6. The method of claim 1, further comprising, when said SMS message or MMS message is determined to constitute a valid message: delivering said SMS message or MMS message directly to an intended destination.
 7. The method of claim 6, further comprising, if said delivering fails, providing said SMS message or MMS message to an Internet Protocol Short Message Gateway or Short Message Service Center via an applicable interface.
 8. The method of claim 7, wherein the applicable interface uses the Session Initiation Protocol.
 9. The method of claim 1, further comprising, when said SMS message or MMS message is determined to constitute a valid message, providing said SMS message or MMS message to an Internet Protocol Short Message Gateway or Short Message Service Center via an applicable interface.
 10. The method of claim 1, wherein said spam-filter determines that said SMS message or MMS message constitutes an unwanted message based on one or more of a source address, a destination address, a network element address, a protocol id/type, a data coding scheme, a keyword/content search, a service identifier, a location of an originator and/or a destination.
 11. The method of claim 10, wherein said location is determined based on a location element, said location element being at least one of a Gateway Mobile Location Center (GMLC) or a Mobile Positioning Center (MPC).
 12. A system for filtration of unwanted wireless telecommunications comprising: an incoming interface configured to monitor traffic associated with roaming subscribers, said traffic carried via inter-network links; said incoming interface being configured to intercept a request for routing information from an originating node within said traffic; said incoming interface being further configured to send a response to said request directing said originating node to send a short message service (SMS) message or Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS) message associated with said request to a spam-filter; said spam-filter being configured to receive said SMS message or MMS message and to determine whether said SMS message or MMS message constitutes an unwanted message; and an outgoing interface configured to invoke an action to manage said SMS message or MMS message based on results of said spam-filter determining whether said SMS message or MMS message constitutes an unwanted message.
 13. The system of claim 12, wherein if said SMS message or MMS message is determined to constitute an unwanted message then said action comprises at least one of deleting, storing for later viewing, and notifying said originating node of a failure or successful delivery.
 14. The system of claim 12, wherein said action comprises notifying said originating node of successful delivery in order to prevent resubmission of said SMS message or MMS message.
 15. The system of claim 12, wherein said outgoing interface is configured to deliver said SMS message or MMS message directly to an intended destination when said SMS message or MMS message is determined to constitute a valid message.
 16. The system of claim 12, wherein said outgoing interface is further configured to provide said SMS message or MMS message to an Internet Protocol Short Message Gateway or Short Message Service Center via an applicable interface when direct delivery fails.
 17. The system of claim 16, wherein the applicable interface uses the Session Initiation Protocol.
 18. The system of claim 12, wherein said outgoing interface is configured to provide, when said SMS message or MMS message is determined to constitute a valid message, said SMS message or MMS message to an Internet Protocol Short Message Gateway or Short Message Service Center via an applicable interface.
 19. The system of claim 18, wherein the applicable interface uses the Session Initiation Protocol.
 20. The system of claim 12, wherein said spam-filter is configured to determine that said SMS message constitutes an unwanted message based on one or more of a source address, a destination address, a network element address, a protocol id/type, a data coding scheme, a keyword/content search, a service identifier, a location of an originator and/or a destination.
 21. The system of claim 20, wherein said location is determined based on a location element, said location element being at least one of a GMLC or an MPC.
 22. The system of claim 12, wherein said spam-filter is configured to determine whether said originating node is barred from delivery of SMS messages such that said outgoing interface will reject delivery of said SMS message or MMS message. 